Mary "Polly" (McComsey) McClure

Birth:   1791
             Kentucky, USA

Died:    1880
             McDonough County, Illinois

Mary "Polly" (McComsey) McClure was born in Kentucky, a daughter of John and Jane Forker [aka Farquehr] McComsey.

In 1810 she married Greenup McClure ("sometimes spelled McLure") in Shelby County, Kentucky. In about 1831, she and her children accompanied her husband, his parents, his brother James, and brother-in-law Samuel Workman in removing to Morgan County, Illinois. In 1835 her husband made the first of two land purchases in McDonough County which gave him a total of 160 acres in section 22, Bethel township, McDonough County, Illinois.

Greenup and "Polly" McClure were the parents of: James Q. (born: 1811); Martin (born: 1814); Sarah Jane [Venard] (born: 1815); Lucy Ann [Brundage] (born: 1819); Margaret [1. Harris 2. Cooper] (born: 1821); Lorrin [Thompson] (born: 1823); Robert Lee (born: 1827); Mary Elizabeth [1. Hoover 2. Hudson] (born: 1832); and Georgetta (born: 1838).  Dan Venard's research suggests that there were possibly at least three other children born to this couple before they left Kentucky who may have died in childhood or infancy.

In the 1870 census, Polly McClure resided with her daughter-in-law Lydia McClure (wife of her late son, James Q.) in the householdof Lydia's son James R. McClure in Bethel Township, McDonough County.

Primary source documenting this burial and biographical details:

•  "Venard-Van Antwerp-. . . McClure . . . etc. Genealogy," by Daniel Lloyd Venard, 1983, Macomb, Illinois, and "Corrections & Additions for Venard-Van Antwerp Genealogy" by Daniel Lloyd Venard, 1988.
• Additional biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com, and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.
• The stones for her and her spouse have been missing since before 1983. The cemetery is in disrepair with many missing and obliterated stones as of November 2007 and even worse condition in May 2010 with increasing damage.

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Greenup McClure

Born:     May 19, 1790
              Jessamine County, Kentucky

Died:     Feb. 19, 1856
              McDonough County, Illinois

He was a son of John and Lucy McClure originally from Jessamine County, Kentucky. (In early records the surname was sometimes spelled "McLure.")

In 1810 he married Polly (Mary) McComsey in Shelby County, Kentucky. In about 1831, along with his wife, children, parents, brother James, and brother-in-law Samuel Workman he removed to Morgan County, Illinois. In 1835 he made the first of two land purchases in McDonough County which gave him a total of 160 acres in section 22, Bethel township, McDonough County, Illinois. He established the Pioneer Cemetery on his property in 1838.

Greenup and Mary McClure were the parents of: James Q. (1811); Martin (1814); Sarah Jane [Venard] (1815); Lucy Ann [Brundage] (1819); Margaret [1. Harris 2. Cooper] (1821); Lorrin [Thompson] (1823); Robert Lee (1827); Mary Elizabeth [1. Hoover 2. Hudson] (1832); and Georgetta (1838).

Primary sources:

• "Venard-Van Antwerp-. . . McClure . . . etc. Genealogy," by Daniel Lloyd Venard, 1983, Macomb, Illinois, and "Corrections & Additions for Venard-Van Antwerp Genealogy" by Daniel Lloyd Venard, 1988.
• Additional biographical information comes from census records, vital statistics, and marriage records from Ancestry.com, and the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.
• Burial is also documented by: Duane Lester's, "Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois, Volume II, Bethel-Industry."

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James McQuiddy McClure

Born:  1811
            Shelby County, Kentucky

Died:   June 2, 1845
            McDonough County, Kentucky

James McQuiddy McClure was the son of Greenup and Mary "Polly" McClure who owned the land on which this cemetery was established. He moved from Kentucky with his parents and siblings in the early 1830's, settling briefly in Morgan County where he married Lydia Margaret Hudson on August 3, 1834. They were the parents of seven children:  Mary Ann, Samuel (born & died in 1837, he is also probably buried here), Sarah Margaret, George William, Isaac Parker, Hester Jane, and James Robert. He died of smoke inhalation after battling a prairie fire. No grave stone has been located for him or his parents likely due to the deteriorating condition of the cemetery.


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